Table-leaf support



Nov. 18, 1930.

F. L. cAsPER 1,782,059

TABLE LEAF SUPPORT Original Filed Sept. 12, 1927 Patented Nov. 18, 1930 :EBANK,L.CASPER, F HOWES QAVE,

V "Applieati bn fiIed epteinber 12,;1927;1Seria1 31344 9;n a vi ee n y berj aa15 29. g

This, invention relates to a "collapsible brace or support primarily intended for use in conjunction with hinged table leaves, but susceptibleiorfuse as a support for other 5 hingedly mounted members, and its general application wherever found desirable, is con templated b the claims. 1

One of the chief characteristics of the in vention residesin the constructionofa brace or support possessing the desired strength and rigidity when*in use, and'thereby pre- 'vent accidental displacement of'the support under any and all circumstances, and one which can be quickly and conveniently col- J "lapsed to'perniit folding ofthe hinge'dmember with which it is used: Y e Incarrying out the invention I contemplate a brace or support-including companion a members5 .designed and associated in a novel if, mannerto assure collapsing of thebrace in but one and the right direction,- the said sections being eifectively latched when arranged in end toend relation for-use. Another object of the inyention resides in constructing a brace for-the purposes mentiOned, wherein thejcompanionsections While efiectively latched in "end to end relation for use, are so associated to permit the brace to be easily and quickly unlatched by anup- Ward force. l Y Other objects and advantages of the invention .willj'be better understood When the following detail-description is read in connection withthe accompanying drawing, the inyentionresiding in the construction, combi- -fnation and arrangement of parts as claimed.

Y --Inthedrawing forming part ofthis applie cationlike numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several Views and l igurel is a fragmentary sectional View of atmbleshowing the hinged member folded in a vertical position-With the brace collapsed.

jV- FC -ure 2 -is a similar view showing the hinged memberofthe table extended and the companion sections of the brace arranged in end to end relation.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the brace. Figure 4 is a top plan. View thereof.

'w-Figure 5 is a View of one of the companion sections.

p I Figure 6 is a View of the other companion section- Y The collapsible brace forming the subject matterofthe present invention-5R preferably constructed of Wire possessing the desired strength for the purpose for-which it is intended, and also the desired resiliency to function in accordance withigthecontemplated 9 operation thereof. The brace embodies companion sections indicated at A and B jrespectiyelyf, and these sections are adapted' to be swingingly mounted on the hinged member and its support respectively. -:1rnaccordance 9 'w'i'th the' specific embodiment ofthe invention hereinillustrated,the section A is swingingly mount'edon the hinged n1ember -10 constituting a'table leaf, the'member being mounted in suitable bracket ll secur'ed to the under 31 side of the'leafe The other 'section B is 'mounted-on the table'12 byalsimilar bracket 13, the companion sections beinghjdes'ig'ned and associated, in a manner to "be presently described, so that the brace or support iii' its entirety can beeasily and' quicklycollaps'ed "by an upward force, and also -proVide' arigid support forthe hinged member When-in use. The member A' is "formed from a; single length of wire, into; the configura'tioni'llus- {$9 tra'tedin Figure 5 and includes'the spaced limbs 14'," the corresponding 'eritremitiesfof which areoflset in opposite directionsas-atld mThe section B jis also formedfrom a single length of Wireand includes the- "limbs- 16 {=3 which are bent; at anappropriatepoint in their length to provide inwardly; directed projections 17. As clearly illustrated; Figures 3fand 4 these projections are'su'bstanti'ally V-shaped and extend towardeach' other-9. with their apexes in; contacting engagement or substantially so.' Each oft-these projectionsis curved downwardlyas at 18 and then extended to provide loops l9,"*ea llj of M which is arranged vertically andto-one side ofthe'a'djacent limbilt} of the section. Q The terminal L of each loop contacts the curved portion 18 as shown. p i When the companion sections of thebrace are -operatiVely associated, the limbs-14 of When the parts are assembled in the manner above described, the companion sections 7 are effectively latched when they are ar-'" ranged in endto end relation for use as illus-' trated inFig'ure'Q, and can not be accidentally unlatched by weight orpressure exerted upon the hinged member 10. The limbs 14 of the section A pass through the loops 19 beneath the projections 17 and above the cam-like surfaces 20, and this prevents the brace or support from collapsing by weight or pressure exerted upon the hinged member 10. In other words the brace can not close or collapse in the wrongdirection, and requires an upward force against the under side of the brace to unlatch the companion sections, and thereby allow said sections and hinged member 10 to be folded as illustrated .in Figure 1. .The brace orsupport is thus afforded maximum strength and rigidity when the sec tions are arranged in end to endrelation for use, but at the same time allows thefbraceto be conveniently and quickly unlatched in the manner just stated. vWhen force is applied to the under side; of the brace, the limbs 14-of the section A ride over the cam-like surfaces 20, thereby slightly forcing the limbs 14 together until said limbs pass from said camlike surfaces between the loops 18. Then by simply pressing upon the hinged member 10, the section A moves upwardly to its folded position against the table 12 while said section A also assumes its folded position substantially parallel with the hinged member 10 and the section B. During this operation, it is obvious that the offset extremities 15. of the section A move from the ends of the loops which they engage when the sections are arranged in end to end relation, toward the oppositeends of said loops. When the hinged member 10 is swung outwardly and upwardly to a position for use, the section A moves the section B away from the table, and as the hinged member assumes its final position the limbs 14 of the section A pass over the camlike surfaces 20. and snap into the curved .portions 18 of the respective loops, and are then efiectively latched againstcasual displacement. 1 While it is believed that from the foregoing description, the nature and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent, I desire to have it understood, that I donot limitmyself to what is herein shown and described and that such changes may be resorted to be 'unlatched, by force in a 1. The combination with a hingedlymounted member and a support therefor, of a brace comprising companion sectlons, and

pivotally mounted on saidmember and support, loops formed on they limbs of one section, and adapted to slidably receive the limbs of'the other section, offset extremities formed on the limbsof the last mentioned section and both slidably and pivotally received by said "loops, whereby said sections can be arranged in end to end relation. or folded substantially parallel, and eachf loop having"a"portion curved inwardly to provide oppositely disposed cam surfaces cooperating with the limbsof the second mentioned section,'-w here by said sections are effectively latchedwhen swungint-o endto end relation, and adapted pendicularly to said offset extremity.

2. The combination, with a hin direction permounted member and its support, of a race comprising vcompanion sections, pivotally mounted on said member and support, each section includingspaced limbs, inwardly directed projections formed on the limbs of one section and. arranged in contacting en-gag ment,-loojps formed on sa d limbs by: the con-.

tinuity of said projections and adapted'to .slidably receive the limbs of the other sec' tion, offset extremities formedjonthe limbs of the last mentioned section and received by said loops for both pivotal and sliding movements, each loop having a portion curved-imwardly to provide oppositely disposed cam surfaces whereby said sections can be arranged in end to end relation or folded substantially parallel, and said limbs of the second mentioned section having parallel portions cooperating with said projections to prevent folding of'the sections in but one direction. 4

3. The combination with a hinged member vand its-support, of a brace comprising companion sections formed from wire and pivotally mounted on; said member and support, each section including spaced limbs, projections formed on the limbs of one section and projecting inwardly toward each other in V contacting engagement, loops formed 'on said limbs and forming a continuity of said projections, each loop being curvedat its point of juncture with its respective projection'to slidably receive the adjacent limb of the other section, offset extremities formed on the limbs of thelast mentioned section and received by said loops for both pivotal and sliding movements, to permit said sections to be arranged in end toend relation or folded substantially parallel, the limbs of said last mentioned sec- -ios tion cooperating with said proj ections' to prevent folding of said sectionin but one direction, and each loop having a portion curved inwardly to provide oppositely disposed cam surfaces cooperating with the limbs of said last mentioned section, whereby said sections are effectively latched when swung into end to end relation, and adapted to-be unlatched by force applied perpendicularly to said offset extremities.

In testimony whereof I affix my si nature.

FRANK L. OAS ER. 

